Isthmus of Panama

4.7

A narrow strip of land that connects Central and South America and separates the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean

proper noun
/ˈɪsθməs əv pəˈnæmə/

: Istmo de Panamá

The construction of the Panama Canal transformed trade through the Isthmus of Panama.

Examples

Balboa was the first European to cross the Isthmus of Panama in 1513.
Many species crossed the Isthmus of Panama during the Great American Biotic Interchange.
The Isthmus of Panama is crucial for global shipping.
Did you know that the Isthmus of Panama connects two oceans?
The construction of the canal across the Isthmus of Panama greatly shortened the maritime route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Due to its strategic location, the Isthmus of Panama has played a crucial role in trade throughout history.
Travelers can enjoy stunning views of both oceans from the Isthmus of Panama, a vital land link between Central and South America.

Synonyms

Isthmus of Darien

vsIsthmus of Panama

Literature

9.6

An old name for the narrow piece of land joining Central America and South America

is the current name used instead of that older historical name

Surface Forms

Isthmus of Panama main

Morphology

isthmus + of + Panama

This is a straightforward noun phrase combining 'isthmus' (a narrow land bridge) with the place name 'Panama' via the preposition 'of', so its meaning — the narrow land at/connected to Panama — is directly derivable from the constituents. The structure and semantics are compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a learner who knows the component words can readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Isthmus of Panama comes from the word isthmus, which means a thin strip of land at Panama that acts like a 'bridge' between Central and South America and separates the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific. Picture a narrow land path with water on both sides, and that's why the phrase means a land link between two larger lands.